MANILA – As commitment to its mission to promote road safety awareness and prevent road-related incidents, NLEX Corp. launched a picture book at the National Library of the Philippines entitled “Ang Bida ng Kalsada” to educate kids on the importance of responsible road usage through a creative story and illustrations.
“The ‘Ang Bida ng Kalsada Picture Book’ is our modest contribution and response to UNICEF’s call for action to protect our children who use the road, either as pedestrians, as passengers, and as responsible members of the community. The story of Danny and Dexter, the main characters in the book, is rich with invaluable road safety lessons that children can easily connect with,” said NLEX Corp. president and GM J. Luigi L. Bautista
The full colored book written in Filipino helps children appreciate road safety by understanding the context behind different traffic rules and regulations in a story covering a child’s journey. It will be distributed to Grades 3-6 public school students in 20 schools within NLEX, SCTEX- NLEX Connector’s host communities.
Director Marilyn Siao of DepEd’s Bureau of Learning and Delivery extended its gratitude towards NLEX as the book not only teaches safe road practices but also good values.
“In the pages of this beautifully illustrated book that we launched today, children embarked on a journey filled with important lessons about being responsible pedestrians, about being conscientious passengers and active members of the community Through a captivating storytelling and vibrant imagery, they not only learn the rules of the road, but also embrace values of caution, compassion, and cooperation,” she said.
In November 2021, the Metro Pacific Tollway Corp., the mother company of NLEX Corp., entered a multi-year agreement with UNICEF, pledging support for its Child Road Safety Program under the United Nations’ Second Decade of Action for Road Safety. Under the partnership, NLEX has committed to assisting 100 schools in identified high-risk areas.
“It is our hope that initiatives like these will contribute to the reduction of road accidents. As parents who trust our children to venture beyond the safety of our homes, and as teachers who bid farewell to students at day’s end, we hold onto the hope of seeing our children become responsible road users. We also hope this picture book can actually bring about positive change in the lives of children, parents, and teachers alike,” said Bautista.
“Ang Bida ng Kalsada” is just one of NLEX’s efforts to contribute to UNICEF’s goal to reduce road traffic fatalities by 50% by year 2030.
Dr. Angel Umali, UNICEF Philippines’s health and nutrition officer thanked NLEX for its commitment on the advocacy and urged the tollway company to continue its efforts in organizing and implementing programs that will enhance children’s welfare.
“Sa lahat ng ating mga proyekto at gawain, kailangan nating tignan ang kapakanan ng mga kabataan sapagkat kapag ginawa nating ligtas ang ating mga kalsada para sa mga bata, ito ay ligtas na rin para sa lahat,” Umali said.
Prior to the agreement with UNICEF, NLEX has always been in the forefront of promoting road safety through various initiatives like Kaligtasan sa Daan (KalSaDa), Biyahero Road Safety Caravan, and Usapang Drayber. All these aims to instill the value of road safety and responsible road usage.
Aside from these road safety awareness initiatives, NLEX also opened in Mabalacat City a Road Traffic Safety Hub and Park which provides an avenue for its stakeholders, including children, to be exposed to and educated on safe road practices.
With the success of the opening of the RTS hub and park and the recent launch of the child road safety picture book, NLEX pledges to continuously work with different organizations and government agencies in initiating programs that will benefit young road users.
